Rattlers replace coach, hire Soudan

Rattlers replace coach, hire Soudan

06/28/2011 02:46 PM

The Rochester Rattlers announced today that the club has named former Rattler Tim Soudan as Head Coach, replacing BJ O'Hara, effective immediately.

O'Hara led the Rattlers to a 36-30 record, including going 0-6 to start the 2011 season, over the course of 66 games from 2004-2008, and 2011. O'Hara was only the second coach in the Rattlers nine-year history and was brought back to coach the team when it returned to Rochester this year. O'Hara had a 2-3 career record in the playoffs. Both of his playoff wins came in 2008 when Rochester captured their first and only Major League Lacrosse Championship.

Soudan, who played with the Rattlers from 2001-2003, has been appointed as the third head coach in Rochester's nine year history.

"Although the team had played a number of close games lately, we were ultimately 0-6 at the midpoint of the season and it was ultimately a results-based decision. Making the move entering the second half of the season gives Tim an opportunity to come in and have an impact on the team this year." Said Pat Ercoli the president of the Rattlers.

Soudan is a legend in the Rochester lacrosse community for the passion and emotion he displayed during his 11 year career with the Rochester Knighthawks (NLL) and three year career with the Rochester Rattlers. Soudan played 125 games for the Knighthwaks, scoring 156 goals and adding 161 assists for 317 points. He was a member of the 1997 MILL Championship team. Soudan played 31 games for the Rattlers from 2001-2003 and scored 35 goals with 9 assists for 47 points. In 1994 and 1998 he played for Team USA and won the World Lacrosse Championship. Soudan is a member of the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the Rochester Knighthawks' Hall of Fame. He served as the Knighthawks Assistant General Manager in 2008.

"I'm proud to have the opportunity to coach the Rochester Rattlers and I'm thankful that they called me. I respect BJ and Ted. I don't necessarily think I can walk in and do better. I just think that I am going to approach the job with a different personality. I'm looking to come in and change the culture of the team. I want to get the players excited again. I want to see the players playing with passion and emotion. I want my team to be ready to answer the whistle every time. I want to appeal to their competitive nature." Soudan said.